President Discusses Strengthening & Improving Health Care in State of the Union

Our second goal is high quality, affordable health care for all
Americans. (Applause.) The American system of medicine is a model of
skill and innovation, with a pace of discovery that is adding good
years to our lives. Yet for many people, medical care costs too much
-- and many have no coverage at all. These problems will not be
solved with a nationalized health care system that dictates coverage
and rations care. (Applause.)

Instead, we must work toward a system in which all Americans have a
good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and
low-income Americans receive the help they need. (Applause.) Instead
of bureaucrats and trial lawyers and HMOs, we must put doctors and
nurses and patients back in charge of American medicine. (Applause.)

Health care reform must begin with Medicare; Medicare is the
binding commitment of a caring society. (Applause.) We must renew
that commitment by giving seniors access to preventive medicine and new
drugs that are transforming health care in America.

Seniors happy with the current Medicare system should be able to
keep their coverage just the way it is. (Applause.) And just like you
-- the members of Congress, and your staffs, and other federal
employees -- all seniors should have the choice of a health care plan
that provides prescription drugs. (Applause.)

My budget will commit an additional $400 billion over the next
decade to reform and strengthen Medicare. Leaders of both political
parties have talked for years about strengthening Medicare. I urge the
members of this new Congress to act this year. (Applause.)

To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime
causes of higher cost, the constant threat that physicians and
hospitals will be unfairly sued. (Applause.) Because of excessive
litigation, everybody pays more for health care, and many parts of
America are losing fine doctors. No one has ever been healed by a
frivolous lawsuit. I urge the Congress to pass medical liability
reform. (Applause.)